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About the Facility

Led by Professor Alan Dorin, the NativeBee+ Tech Facility harnesses AI, data science, computer vision and simulation to develop new technology that monitors, simulates and improves our understanding and management of insect-plant interactions.

Insect pollinators directly contribute to 34% of global food production – approximately AUD$238 billion per year.

Even the tiniest changes in pollinator efficiency can cause production losses that have the potential to undermine global food security.

Integrating computer science, ecology, entomology, engineering and agriculture, this climate-controlled and digitally-wired facility is home to Australian native insect species. Here the Facility staff and students research, design and test monitoring, simulation and management tools for the good of the planet’s natural and agricultural ecosystems.

The breathtaking diversity of insect-plant relationships underpins food chains that support both human life and terrestrial ecosystems. Some interactions being explored include:

  • the pollination of crops and wildflowers by bees
  • hive health monitoring technology for Australian native stingless bees
  • the management of invasive insect pests such as thrips and fruit flies that damage fruit crops
  • the control of crop pests by predatory beneficial insects.

‘We drive innovative technologies that reveal and preserve the relationships between insects and plants in natural and agricultural ecosystems – sustaining life on earth.’

Professor Alan Dorin, Director

Experience a living research space

The NativeBee+ Tech Facility houses flowering plants and a colony of Australian native stingless bees (Tetragonula Carbonaria) that can freely roam outdoors in the warmer months.

The importance of managing native bees is increasingly being understood as a key diversification strategy for agricultural pollination – and they’re also key pollinators of native flowering plants.

Their value is becoming more evident as the reliability of managed honey bee crop pollination suffers due to insufficient colony numbers and the impact of climate change, disease and pesticides.

The Facility is a showcase of collaborative university activity. Its presence not only highlights projects addressing climate change, a key challenge of the age, but it also makes for convenient and informative visits from industry and researchers.

Situated near researchers in data science, AI, machine learning, computer vision, human-computer interaction and other vital IT disciplines – and close to other Monash faculties – it drives new interfaculty collaborations to tackle major global problems.

During your visit

Hive visibility

We offer several ways for you to observe the busyness of our bees. Watch them through the observation windows of the facility or via the micro-cameras installed in the hive and on flowering plants. We also have images available online for remote monitoring and to allow curious students, industry visitors and staff to see the insects onsite at greater than life size.

IoT hive

Illustrated is a commercial HiveHaven hive, one of several we are exploring. This hive is designed in Australia, specifically for our native stingless bees.

We connect our hives via IoT hardware and software developed with our industry partners. This allows beekeepers, students and staff to remotely monitor activity and access invaluable data logs on bee health, behaviour and pollination.

Computer vision and machine learning

Computer-generated heatmap of bees foraging on wildflowers (Image from the work of Dr. M. Ratnayake).

The computer vision and machine learning technology we’re developing allows us to track insect behaviour, including when they depart and enter the hive, and how long they spend foraging on flowers.

Ultimately, researchers and growers will be able to identify deficits in greenhouse and field pollination, and interpret insect behaviours under agricultural and natural conditions to benefit crop and native flowering plant pollination.

Computer simulation

3D computer simulation of bees pollinating flowers arranged in cropping rows. (Image from the work of Mr. E. Dann)

We’ve developed extensive simulations of bees foraging on crops and wildflowers which are on display in our facility.

Eager to visit? Have a question?

Professor Alan Dorin
alan.dorin@monash.edu